Syllabus - Ceramics – Spring 2016
Mr. Rob Boriskin
Voice Mail - (916) – 733-3600 Ext.1106
E-Mail - Rboriskin@cbhs-sacramento.org
You are responsible for your learning!!
This class is an elective which means you have selected it from lots of
other classes you could have taken. You are here to lean and I am here to
help. You are in high school, and though you make some decisions about
being here, the law and your parents also play a role in your presence at
school.
I wish I could say “If you don’t want to do it, don’t” but I can’t.
You are in high school and there are requirements on both you and me.
What I can say is that you will only get out of this class what you put in.
My time is valuable and so is yours, I am not more important than you; we
are equals. That said, I have time and I have knowledge. If you want access
to either, you’ll have to commit the necessary time to this class. That
means you need to do your homework, read the handouts, watch the
videos, so you come to class prepared to work with clay.
Hack your education. For this class this means you shouldn’t stop at
the videos and handouts I have in Schoology – feel free to look anywhere
you can to find information about ceramics. Bring that information to
class and share it with other students and me. Learn to be a lifetime
learner and begin exploring the internet for information on ceramics as
early as possible (in this class that will get you extra credit).
Use electronics outside of the class. There is a world full of digital
knowledge at your fingertips; use it. For this class we are using the
classroom as a time to be “unplugged” – No iPads no Phones, just a time
to work with clay and talk to the people in your class. Allow yourself to
enjoy working with clay and talking to your friends and fellow students.
I have no idea what you’ll learn. That is up to you. For this class I
actually have a very specific idea of what I want you to learn. The class
will focus on four ways to manipulate clay to create things, including,
sculpting, coiling, slabbing and throwing. These techniques will introduce
you to working with clay. If you are taking Ceramics II you will have the
opportunity to refine all, or specific techniques you are drawn to. I can
teach until I’m blue in the face, but if you don’t want to learn, you
won’t. How will you learn new things when you leave high school? Start
figuring that out now.
You will fail. (Please, please fail.) Take risks. You will learn more
from your failures than you will from your triumphs. Ceramics may create
more opportunities for failure than you are used to. With the right
attitude it will also create lots of opportunities for learning from those
failures. In this class, it is your effort that will define your grade, so make
lots of effort and take lots of risks.
Make something. The world is full of people who talk a good game. Put
what you know to work for you and make something tangible. Before he
died, Steve Jobs said, “It’s not all about you and your passion. You need to
get out there and make a dent in the universe.” Do that. This class will
give you the opportunity to make things from clay. Take that opportunity
to make the very best things you can.
Give back. Think hard about how you fit into the world. Make a lasting
impact, even if it’s a small one. Be an active, responsible citizen. Be kind.
The world needs more kindness. Enter to learn – Leave to serve. In this
class the Empty Bowls Project is just one of the many ways we can give
back.
There are no exams. In this class you have homework (reading
handouts and watching videos) that I will grade based on your answers to
questions about those assignments. I also give you one quiz to do as
homework. For your projects (this is working with clay) you need to show
what you can do with what you know. Did you learn something? Prove it
through your projects. See next section.
Grade yourself. In the work world, you will often have to justify your
usefulness to your employer. I am required to enter grades for you
throughout the semester. For projects (unlike homework) you will tell me
what grade you deserve and why and then we will meet. The Matrix we
use in this class requires you to grade yourself before we agree on a grade.
I might be an easy grader but you should be tough on yourself; it will train
you for the future.
Document, document, document. Show the world what you have
done, what you can do. Work hard in class. Make the best pieces of
ceramics you can and then share them with the world. Take pictures, put
them on social media. Enter your ceramics in Art shows. Be proud of
what you have done.
Start now. “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda
Below are the more traditional things I put in my syllabus.
Welcome to Ceramics. This is a studio level class that requires you to participate
every day, be self-motivated, and disciplined. This class is designed to give you an
opportunity to learn the craft of ceramics. The focus of the class will be sculpture.
Expressing yourself using clay provides a durable multi-dimensional media to
work with. Mastering ceramic skills, like other art forms, takes practice,
discipline, concentration and patience.
Work outside of the classroom: To increase the amount of time you have in the
classroom to work with clay, you will be required to do some reading and
watching of video demonstrations outside of class. These assignments, in
addition to providing you with general information about the class, will provide
you with instructions on how to do each one of the required projects for this
class. By you getting these instructions outside of class it will allow me more time
in class to answer questions and provide you with one on one instruction. This
should also allow you time in class to complete lots of extra pieces of ceramics to
keep or give away and get extra credit for that work.
Read – Watch – Do: This class creates the opportunity for you to go through 3
separate steps in learning the craft: First, you can read about what you will be
learning. Second, you can watch it being done (most of this will be in videos).
Third, you will do it.
Safety: You will be working with tools and chemicals (glaze). It is important that
you understand how to use them before embarking on any project. If you are not
sure about how to use a tool or chemical get instruction prior to using them.
Environment: Ceramics creates opportunities for you to be aware of your
environment. Until the clay has been fired, it can be reused many times. If it gets
too dry, you add water (see the recycle buckets). If it’s too wet, you let it dry.
The glazes you use do not contain lead, but they do contain other chemicals that
are best not put into our water system. Therefore, you will be very careful not to
have excessive clay or glaze washed down the drain.
Clothing: You will be working with clay and glazes. It will be your responsibility
to protect your clothes. Aprons and overalls are available in the classroom. If
you prefer, you can bring other protective outfits from home.
Conduct: All school rules as outlined in your Student Handbook will be enforced
at all times. Respect your classroom environment by cleaning up thoroughly at
the end of each class. Be careful not to splatter clay or glaze on furniture or other
students. Any inappropriate behavior including throwing clay or misuse of
materials will insure your immediate removal from class.
Craftsmanship will be taught. To be successful in learning you must:
a. Arrive on time, prepared to work.
b. Take care of outside needs before class.
c. Work on ceramics only in this class.
Attendance: It is imperative that you attend class regularly. You are learning a
craft that requires you to use visual and other senses to learn the techniques
being taught. You will be allowed to take clay home to work on projects, if
necessary.
Inappropriate Pieces: Ceramics creates the opportunity to make lots of different
forms. Sculpting on the forms creates additional opportunities to express
yourself. Every piece of ceramics that students make must be consistent with
Christian Brothers High School values. No inappropriate pieces will be tolerated.
Re-cycle: Be prepared to re-cycle what you have created. Though you may want
to keep the first pot you throw or hand build, you must determine if you have
mastered the skills and techniques you have been taught before keeping it.
Cutting pots in half is an excellent way to determine if what you have done, was
done right or wrong. You are here to learn and improve your skills. Your
willingness to recycle your clay and start again shows a discipline that will help
you improve your craft.
Late/Incomplete work: Late work will be accepted for partial credit. Work
handed in that appears incomplete may not be accepted or will be marked down
accordingly.
Cheating: All work must be your own. Any violations will receive no credit.
Grades: Grading Scale: Your grade is determined on a hundred-point scale.
90-100%
=
A
80-89%
=
B
70-79%
=
C
60-69%
=
D
Below 60% =
F
You will be learning the craft of Ceramics in this class. Each project will be graded
on how well you learned the specific techniques you have been assigned.
Ceramics also provides an opportunity for artistic expression. Though you will not
be graded on how your work “looks”, the opportunity to be artistic exists in every
project you will be given. Each project will come with a self-evaluation form that
defines what is expected. This, along with finishing the project on time and effort
will determine your grade. (Note: projects that explode in the kiln reveal a lack of
proper preparation and this event will affect your grade).
Your ability to judge your own work is critical so you will always grade your
project first before submitting it for a final grade. This allows you to judge the
effort you made and success you had. Though the final grade will be made by the
instructor your assessment will help generate the discussion of your final grade.
In this class you should focus on the quality of your work. A few pieces that you
spend time and hard effort on will gain you a higher grade than many quickly
done or rushed pieces.
Since ceramics comes with its own vocabulary, you will also be tested on your
ability to learn this new language. You will also have lots of opportunities to get
extra credit that can add up to 5% to your grade.
Office Hours – The best way to contact me is via Schoology or e-mail.
rboriskin@cbhs-sacramento.org. If you prefer to meet in person, please make an
appointment. If you and / or your parents have any questions do not hesitate to
contact me
Be prepared to get a little muddy and have fun!
STUDENT AGREEMENT
I, ______________________________, have read the above list of class
expectation and am in agreement with them.
___________________________________
______________
Student Signature
Date
___________________________________
_____________
Parent Signature
Date
Time Line: Start 1/5/16 - Please submit the electronically signed copy of this
syllabus by 1/8/16. Value 15 Points.